An automatic dental flosser (10,11,37) includes a floss cartridge or attachment (14,15,17,19) detachably connectable to a power driver (12,13). The attachment comprises a plastic bifurcated member (16,82) supporting a dental floss span for flossing teeth. A rotatably supported floss supply spool (58) is connected to the bifurcated member for continuously replacing used floss spans with clean floss spans. A rotatably supported floss take-up spool (50,72) is connected to the bifurcated member for being driven by the driver to wind used floss drawn from the bifurcated member. Means for encapsulating the used floss and for distributing antimicrobial fluid (69) on the used floss are included to inhibit microbial activity. Means are provided to distribute used floss along a take-up spool for high-capacity used floss storage until disposal of the cartridge. In the unlikely event of a floss snag, such as on a dental appliance, a built-in floss cutter (88) can instantly detach the flosser.
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12. A dental flosser attachment comprising:
a bifurcated member forming a pair of flossing tines for supporting a dental floss span to floss teeth, said bifurcated member having a distal end defined by said pair of flossing tines and a proximal end opposite the distal end;
a fluid tight enclosure connected to said proximal end of said bifurcated member;
a floss take-up spool rotatably supported within said fluid tight enclosure, said take-up spool having an elongated core having opposing terminal ends and at least one flange connected to at least one of said terminal ends, said core having a maximum diameter in a middle of said core and said core tapering from said middle toward said terminal ends and said flange having an inner surface facing said core, said inner surface defining a plurality of grooves thereon;
an antiseptic fluid contained in said fluid tight enclosure for sanitizing used floss and storing used floss in a sanitary environment; and
means for rotatably supporting a floss supply spool outside of said fluid-tight enclosure.
9. A dental flosser comprising:
a housing;
a bifurcated member forming a pair of flossing tines for supporting a dental floss span to floss teeth, said bifurcated member forming a distal portion of said housing;
a rotatably supported floss supply spool connected to a proximal portion of said housing for replacing used floss with clean floss;
an elongate floss guide extending between said floss supply spool and said bifurcated member and along said housing for guiding floss on route from said spool to said tines;
a hole formed in said housing, said hole extending transversely with respect to said floss guide;
a slidably supported cutting blade positioned in said hole and extending transversely of said floss guide;
a finger rest attached to said cutting blade; and
a spring positioned within said hole and operatively coupled to said cutting blade to urge said cutting blade toward a first position wherein pressing said finger rest causes said cutting blade to slide within said hole toward a second position thereby cutting floss in said floss guide.
1. A dental flosser attachment detachably connectable to a driver, said attachment comprising:
a bifurcated member forming a pair of flossing tines for supporting a dental floss span to floss teeth;
a rotatably supported floss take-up spool connected to said bifurcated member and arranged for being driven by the driver to wind used dental floss from said tines, said take-up spool having a spool core and at least one spool flange connected to said spool core, said flange having an inner surface facing said spool core, said inner surface defining a plurality of spiral grooves extending from a periphery of said flange to said spool core wherein said plurality of spiral grooves converge toward said spool core; and
a fluid tight enclosure surrounding said take-up spool, said enclosure serving for containing antimicrobial liquid to wet used floss wound onto said spool core thereby inhibiting microbial activity on the used floss;
whereby said inner surface of said flange serves to convey the antimicrobial liquid to wet the wound used floss when the liquid level in said enclosure is below the wound used floss and said spool is being rotated partly submerged in the liquid.
2. The dental flosser attachment of
3. The dental flosser attachment of
5. The dental flosser attachment of
6. The dental flosser attachment of
7. The dental flosser attachment of
8. The dental flosser attachment of
10. The dental flosser attachment as defined in
11. The dental flosser attachment as defined in
13. The dental flosser attachment of
14. The dental flosser attachment of
15. The dental flosser attachment of
16. The dental flosser attachment of
17. The dental flosser attachment of
18. The dental flosser attachment of
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A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 9,510,921 and claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/602,498 filed Apr. 25, 2017 and provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/604,533 filed Jul. 10, 2017 by the present inventor.
This application relates to dental hygiene devices, specifically to powered dental flossers.
Conventional methods of flossing are loathed by almost everyone because the conventional methods are tedious, messy, and inefficient. Moreover, the effectiveness of conventional methods is dubious. The Associated Press, for example, reported in Aug. 2, 2016 that there is little proof of the efficacy of manual flossing for interdental plaque removal. Furthermore, the marketplaces lack a powered flosser that continuously replaces used floss with clean floss while flossing. Such a feature will be very advantages for dental hygiene. Attempts to produce a flosser having such a feature have been described in the patent records, but overcoming all of the challenges of continuous floss replacement has been elusive. As this document is being prepared, consumers and dental professionals are still waiting for a commercially manufactured flosser to replace the tedious and inefficient conventional methods of flossing.
An automatic dental flosser described herein includes a cartridge or attachment detachably connectable to a power driver. The attachment comprises a plastic frame supporting a dental floss span for flossing teeth. A rotatably supported floss supply spool is connected to the frame for continuously replacing used floss spans with clean floss spans. A rotatably supported floss take-up spool is connected to the frame for being driven by the driver to wind used floss drawn from the frame. Means are provided to distribute used floss along the take-up spool core for high-capacity storage. Means for encapsulating and sanitizing the used floss are included to inhibit microbial activity. Safety features include a built-in floss cutter to instantly detach the flosser from snagged floss in the event that a floss snag occurs in the user's oral cavity.
The ability of the automatic dental flosser to continuously replace used floss with clean floss while flossing avoids spreading oral microbes, greatly enhances cleaning efficacy, carries away the plaque debris, and longitudinal motion of the moving spans assists in inserting the floss in between tightly abutting teeth. In addition, the automatic flosser adds orbital motions to the floss spans thereby cleaning and polishing as motor-driven floss follows dental contours. Antiseptic encapsulation of the used floss prevents odors and enables hygienic high-capacity storage of used floss until disposal of the attachment when the clean floss supply runs out.
The accompanying drawings in combination with the description herewith illustrate features of embodiments. Like reference numerals refer to the same parts. The drawings are not necessarily to scale.
Beginning in
Power Driver 12—
Power driver 12 (
More details of driver 12 are shown in
Flosser Attachment 14—
Spindle 44 (
A central portion of shaft 46 forms the core hub of an elongate floss take-up spool 50 having end flanges 52 and 54 wherein spool 50 is enclosed in fluid-tight capsule 22. Floss distributing augers 56 together form a generally bicone shape and are coaxially fixed to shaft 46. Augers 56 function as explained in U.S. Pat. No. 9,510,921.
Spindle 44, shown in
From tine 20, floss strand 60A extends along groove 66 (
At the factory, capsule 22 is evacuated of air by insertion of a hollow needle (not shown) through aperture 67 and bearing 68 wherein the needle is attached to a pump (not shown) that draws the air out of the capsule. The air can be partially replaced with antimicrobial fluids such as those described for the embodiments described hereinafter to prevent odorous gases from being generated. A partial vacuum should remain to allow a large accumulation of used floss.
Sloped walls of capsule 22 form ridge 24. Floss strand 60A has sufficient space between the sloped capsule walls to traverse the entire length of the elongate core of spool 50 when the spool rotates. Hence, the elongate spool core can wind and store a substantial amount of used floss until disposal of attachment 14.
The ridge-shape of fluid-tight capsule 22 conforms contiguously with power cell housing 28 and main driver housing 26 to form a space-efficient streamlined body and handle of flosser 10. As indicated in
Operation of Flosser 10—
A user will normally hold flosser 10 by gripping slip-resistant panels 30A and 30B with the fingers of one hand. By pushing button 40 forward, motor 32 is energized to drive floss take-up spool 50 to wind floss strand 60A. Thus, flossing can commence as the floss span is continuously being replaced. The longitudinal movement of the floss span helps in working the span between tightly contacting teeth. By holding flosser 10 as described above, the user's fingers act as a see-saw fulcrum so that eccentric weight 34 drives the floss span in a vertically orbital path while only slight motion occurs where held by the user's fingers. When the moving floss span is applied between adjacent teeth, the floss span will scrub along the contours of both teeth. The action of the floss span can be directed down to the attached gum tissue to clean and polish both teeth. The speed-reduction gears of gearbox 35 tame the floss span speed to make the orbital motions more comfortable for the user.
The user controls floss span tension by the amount of finger pressure applied to flexible panels 30A and 30B. The elastomeric inner surface of each panel engages and imposes drag on floss spool 58 positioned axially parallel to the panel ribs 31 and between the panels thereby controlling floss span tension according to the amount of user finger pressure. In the unlikely event that the floss span gets snagged on a dental appliance, for example, the user can release finger pressure on the panels to allow the floss to payout from the supply spool. Thus, the flosser can be removed from the user's mouth and the extended floss can be dislodged and wound so flossing can resume. Another way to payout floss, if necessary, is by pivoting button 40 rearward so motor 32 will operate in reverse to unwind some floss from take-up spool 50. Both floss payout methods can be used at the same time.
To inhibit microbial activity caused by oral microbes on wound used floss, the capsule is evacuated of air as described above wherein the evacuated air is partially replaced with a shallow amount of an antiseptic or antimicrobial solution 69 partially submerging take-up spool 72. Antimicrobial solution 69 is inserted into the capsule through a hollow needle (not shown) passed through elastomeric floss bearing 68. Antimicrobial solution 69 is a solution of ethanol, water, and liquid soap wherein the ethanol concentration is 70% by weight and the soap concentration is 3% by weight. The liquid soap is the type produced by saponification of lauric acid and is included in the solution as a lubricant, wetting agent, and to enhance the antimicrobial effect of the solution. The soap is comprised of a slippery surfactant that provides a lubricating benefit explained below.
In
To further insure that anaerobic microbial activity is inhibited, pure oxygen is injected into the vacuum of capsule 22 by a hollow needle passed through floss bearing 68. But total gas pressure in capsule 22 is set significantly below that of ambient atmospheric pressure.
In
Flosser Attachment 17—
Attachment 17 is similar to attachment 14 except for differences explained as follows: A bifurcated member 82 includes a short neck formed into a short handle or finger-grip 84 for greater advantage in manipulating the floss span to pass between contact areas of tightly contacting teeth. Finger-grip 84 is substantially flared posteriorly and is acutely arcuate for conforming to a user's thumb and forefinger when gripped between them. Finger-grip 84 also includes raised arcuate ribs 86 to provide further slip resistance when gripped.
Attachment 17 includes a floss cutter 88 as an added safety feature for cutting floss in the unlikely event that the floss span gets snagged, such as on an appliance in the user's oral cavity. Floss cutter 88 is positioned through and across an elongate floss guide groove 66A which is similar to floss guide groove 66 and guides floss on route from the supply spool to the flossing tines and then to the take-up spool. As in the other embodiments, the clean floss and the used floss are spaced slightly apart in guide groove 66A. As explained below, cutter 88 does not impede normal floss flow in guide groove 66A. But when actuated, cutter 88 cuts off a loop of floss strand 60B in the guide groove that is going to and coming from the tines.
As best shown in
Spring 94 and the second end portion of tube 90 are contained in a deep bore/hole in the rigid plastic housing of attachment 17 such that tube 90 is slidably supported to move longitudinally in the bore/hole. Waterproof epoxy 96 retains a bottom end of spring 94 in the bore/hole. Opening 91 is aligned with floss guide groove 66A to avoid impeding normal floss flow in the guide groove.
The combination is arranged so that cutting blade 92 is movably supported and positioned proximate and transversely of elongate floss guide groove 66A for severing the loop of floss strand 60B in the guide groove. When finger rest 93 is pressed by a user, cutter 88 and its cutting blade 92 move from a first position (
The second of the two opposite funnel-shaped entrance portions includes a wide open mouth 23 wherein the second entrance portion gradually decreases in diameter as the distance from its mouth increases until reaching fluid-tight portion 29 so that floss having floss knot 25 can be pulled through the fluid-tight passageway (in the opposite direction) and leave the capsule. A knot such as floss knot 25 results when a user ties severed or broken floss end portions together.
The occurrence of a floss break is rare because the precursor to a floss break is usually frayed floss. But all floss spans are continuously being replaced in the present flosser embodiments while they work. Therefore floss breaks are normally avoided. Nevertheless, if a floss break occurs, the broken floss end portions can be tied together and flossing can resume.
Referring back to
The fluid-tight capsule contains the same antimicrobial fluids as the second embodiment in order to sanitize used floss wound onto take-up spool 50.
When the space between the threads of augers 56 are filled with floss, the bicone shape of the combination lubricated by the antimicrobial solution will make additional floss being wound become prone to slide incrementally toward the spool flanges. Hence, the additional floss will be distributed in a similar manner as described for distribution of floss on bicone-shaped core 73 of spool 72.
The top view of flosser embodiment 11 is similar to that of flosser embodiment 10 (
In
Flosser Attachment 19—
Attachment 19 is similar to attachment 17 except for differences explained as follows: A partition is added within the capsule to form a fluid-tight chamber or reservoir 77. An annular aperture in the partition is plugged with an annular self-sealing elastomeric floss bearing 71 that is internally structured like floss bearing 68. Thus, floss bearings 68 and 71 form fluid-tight seals around floss 60C passing in and out of reservoir 77. An end portion of floss 60C is attached to take-up spool 72 which replaced spool 50. Contained within reservoir 77 is antimicrobial solution 69 for inhibiting microbial activity on the used floss passing through. Hence, the reservoir bath treats floss to be wound on spool 72 to avoid microbial generated gas and odor. As explained above for the second embodiment, spool 72 self-distributes tensioned floss for high-capacity storage. All other fluid is evacuated from the capsule to make room for incoming floss.
It should be understood that an alternative antimicrobial solution or disinfectant could replace solution 69 in the embodiments, especially an alternative solution that prevents the generation of gas and odor caused by microbes on the used floss.
While the description above is of specific embodiments, these are not intended to be limited in scope to the embodiments shown and described, but rather as some useful examples. Each of these embodiments can give rise to various models and other embodiments.
In the embodiments shown, the tine arrangement is F-shaped but can alternatively be Y-shaped. By marketing both types of tine arrangements, consumers will be able to select the type they prefer.
Eccentric weight 34 could be obviated or replaced by a method of longitudinally pulsating the flowing floss span by an electronic oscillator or by mechanical means driven by the posterior drive shaft of motor 32. But, such a modification would not necessarily be advised by the present inventor.
A useful added feature could drive eccentric weight 34 selectively rather than every time the motor runs. This could be achieved by supporting weight 34 to rotate by slipping about a short shaft fixed to housing 26 and coaxially aligned with the posterior motor shaft. A user-actuated clutch or coupling could selectively connect weight 34 with the motor shaft when orbital motion of the floss span is desired.
Other antimicrobial fluid(s) could be substituted is place of ethanol and/or oxygen. Inhibiting microbial activity is important because common microbes generate odorous gases and could cause other undesirable ramifications.
An oral examination illuminator having a bright LED can be embedded in the plastic housing in front of the capsule of any of the attachment embodiments. The illumination can be directed into the user's oral cavity while flossing. Power leads to the LED and to a light switch can be detachably connectable to power cell 36 for energizing the illuminator.
Thus, the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.
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